A kind-hearted Wishawhill runner has set himself a gruelling schedule of endurance tests for 2014.

Marathon man Gerry Mclelland will compete in this year’s London, Belfast and New York races, as well as undertaking the Clyde Stride – a 40-mile ultra marathon – in an attempt to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

To give himself a break from running and add a bit of variety to his charity challenges, electrician Gerry, 30, is heading to Tanzania in June to scale Mount Kilimanjaro for St Andrew’s Hospice, Airdrie.

Last year Gerry raised £5000 for charity and has already doubled that figure for his Kilimanjaro venture alone.

So it’s surprising to discover that someone with such a positive outlook and insatiable desire to help others was on a downward spiral just two years ago.

The keep-fit fanatic explained: “I was suffering from depression and in the biggest fight of my life. Things were getting out of control and doctors just kept giving me more anti-depressants.”

However, an introduction to a Wishaw-based life coach turned Gerry’s life around.

He continued: “I initially contacted my friend and life coach James McCourt, who runs Hidden Depths, in March 2012.

“After only a few sessions with James I started to take control again. His coaching got me to a state of complete belief in myself. A few months later I was off the tablets and focusing on my future and my health.”

Gerry continued: “ I don’t like to think where I was heading before I worked with James, but I am now proud to say that the change in me has been unbelievable. I went from struggling through my day to running marathons and doing what I can to help others.”

This desire to help others has resulted in Gerry throwing himself into his charity endeavours and he is currently putting himself through a gruelling daily training regime, running countless miles in preparation for his first marathon in London next month.

He added: “I’m running in excess of 55 miles a week now and doing plenty of hill work too.

“I’ve got a great support system behind me. As well as James, I have a nutritionist, Mark Dixon, and I’d like to say thanks to Kieran Kelly from Scotia Aid for all his help and also Celtic FC Foundation who recently donated £2000 towards my Kilimanjaro venture, taking it through the £11,000 barrier, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Gerry’s other chosen charity is Whizz-Kidz, which provide vital equipment and support for disabled children.

Gerry said: “They do an absolutely fantastic job and that’s what all my marathons are for this year, to raise as much money as I can for them.”

This Friday night, March 7, Gerry is hosting a fundraising event in The Commercial Hotel’s Soul Suite with proceeds going to Whizz-Kidz.

He added: “It promises to be a great night. Tickets are just £3 and can be bought at the door. We’ve got live acoustic music, a DJ, raffles and auctions with some amazing prizes including a pair of Ricky Burns’ boxing gloves, signed football tops and lots more.”

The event begins at 7.30pm and if you’d like to make a donation towards Gerry’s Whizz-Kidz fundraising please visit www.justgiving.com/GerryMclelland83 .